QUICK SETS
The Cleveland State volleyball team will open the 2026 season this weekend, traveling east for the Lehigh Invitational. This will mark the first three matches of an 11-match non-league schedule, as the Vikings are set to face Morgan State and Lehigh on Friday, August 28, and Gardner-Webb on Saturday, August 29.
 
ENTERING THE WEEK…
The Vikings will be kicking off their 55th season of volleyball, and 27th under head coach Chuck Voss…Cleveland State will be trying to win its eighth season-opening tournament title under Voss…The Vikings will also be trying to post their eighth 3-0 start to a season during Voss' tenure.
 
CSU IN SEASON-OPENING TOURNAMENTS
Since the 2000 season when Chuck Voss took over the Cleveland State volleyball program, the Vikings have posted a 45-29 record in season-opening tournaments, including capturing seven opening weekend titles, most recently during 2023 when the Vikings defeated Murray State, Western Illinois and Tennessee State as part of the Leatherneck Classic.
 
AGAINST THE FIELD
Cleveland State enters the weekend with a 7-0 combined record all-time against Lehigh, Morgan State and Gardner-Webb. The Vikings own matching 3-0 records against Lehigh and Morgan State, while they picked up a win in the only matchup in program history against Gardner-Webb. Cleveland State last faced Lehigh and Morgan State furing the 2022 campaign, while the lone matchup against Gardner-Webb came during the 2009 season.
 
NEW LOOK VIKINGS
This year's edition of the Vikings features just nine returners from last year's team, while they are joined by nine newcomers. This newcomer group includes seven true freshmen and two transfers.
 
VANVLEET RETURNS FOLLOWING STRONG ROOKIE CAMPAIGN
Bryn VanVleet returns for her sophomore campaign in 2026, following a rookie season in which she led the team averaging 2.97 kills per set. VanVleet combined for 276 total kills last year, including 14 double-digit kill performances. In addition, VanVleet also combined for 89 digs and 19 total blocks last year, playing in 93 sets.
 
…VANVLEET & CEROVAC WIN GLOBAL CHALLENGE
This summer, Bryn VanVleet and Alyssa Cerovac competed in the Global Challenge 2026, claiming the U17 Title with BIP SE. This marked the second straight year that the Vikings had a current or incoming student-athlete participating, as VanVleet also competed in 2025.
 
KOEHLER CLOSING IN ON 500 CAREER KILLS
JeriLynn Koehler enters her senior season closing in on 500 career kills, currently sitting at 427. Koehler, who averaged a career-high 2.21 kills per set as a sophomore, has combined for 115+ kills in two of her first three seasons. In addition, Koehler is also closing in on 250 total blocks, entering the year with 179 block assists and 49 solo blocks.
 
…DELVENTHAL CLOSING IN ON 700 CAREER DIGS
After playing as Cleveland State's libero last season, junior Vayda Delventhal enters the year with 679 career digs. Delventhal, who averaged 4.54 digs per set last season, will be looking to post her third straight 200+ dig campaign with the Vikings. As a freshman, Delventhal combined for 230 digs, while she followed that up with 449 total digs last year.
 
HEAD COACH CHUCK VOSS
Chuck Voss is in his 27th season at the helm of the Vikings, and owns a 439-326 (.573) overall record at Cleveland State. Under Voss the Vikings have recorded 19 winning seasons, including a streak of 10 straight from 2009-2018. Cleveland State has eclipsed the 20-win mark nine times since Voss took over the program, and has captured Horizon League Tournament titles six times under his guidance.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Cleveland State will stay on the road next weekend, taking part in the Mercyhurst Tournament on Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5. The Vikings will face Siena, Morehead State and the host Mercyhurst.
 
…HOME-SWEET-HOME
The Vikings will open their 11-match home slate in mid-September, co-hosting the CSU Invitational Presented by Comfort Inn Cleveland Downtown with Akron. As part of the tournament, the Vikings will take on the Zips, while also hosting Valparaiso (Friday, September 11) and Coppin State (Saturday, September 12).